I don't know what to say about all this..
I believe the steels are better today... More of a selection of alloys that can be tailored to specific needs... On the otherhand, today's corporate mindset generally demands using less expensive raw materials to maximize profits.
Machinery is better and more precise that in the past, but just as above, highly skilled labor is becoming harder and harder to obtain at any price, and training, as in an old school appreticeship program is virtually non-existant. The days of the craftsman performing a labor of love are at a close..
So, while today's blades could be a bit better than in bygone days, I don't believe that many are..